A Legacy of Learning and Leadership
Dr. Beth Eisenfeld brought together two qualities that defined her work: a commitment to rigorous analysis and a commitment to the students doing the hard work of earning their degrees.
Her own educational journey reflected a lifelong commitment to learning. After earning degrees from Michigan State University and the University of Michigan, Dr. Eisenfeld built a professional career in research, technology, competitive intelligence, and analysis.
She continued her education throughout her career, eventually earning her Doctorate in Strategic Security from Henley-Putnam.
That combination of professional experience, scholarship, and continued learning became something she shared with others.
Through years of online teaching and academic service, Dr. Eisenfeld worked with students at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels, helping learners navigate the challenges of advanced study and degree completion.
In the Words of Those She Inspired
Students and colleagues remember Dr. Eisenfeld for her high standards, mentorship, and dedication to their success.
The Students She Inspired
“Dr. Eisenfeld was more than a professor to me. She was a mentor who challenged me to think harder, hold myself to a higher standard, and finish what I started in my doctoral program. I carry her guidance with me in my work today, and I am grateful for the difference she made in my success.”
Patrick A. Thomas, DSS
“Beth, was a consummate academic professional, with exacting and fair expectations for her students. Beth wanted to see her students succeed while preserving academic integrity and was a caring individual and professor.”
Michael O., former student
Remembered by Her Colleagues
“Dr. Beth Eisenfeld’s legacy reflects the highest ideals of doctoral education: resilience in the face of challenge, disciplined critical analysis, ethical responsibility, and the persistence to carry meaningful work through to completion. Her example reminds us that scholarship is not merely about earning a degree, but about using knowledge with integrity, purpose, and a commitment to helping others advance.”
Dr. Charles M. Russo, Faculty Colleague
“I used to tell Beth all the time that she shouldn’t care more about a student’s success than they cared about their own, and that sometimes she needed to take a step back. She set the bar high, but her tough love was rooted in a devotion that ran even deeper. Deep down, she was invested in their future far more than many students ever realized at the time.”
Dr. Susie Kuilan, Associate Dean, Henley-Putnam School of Strategic Security
A PERSONAL TRIBUTE
Remembering a Friend and Educator
“Working alongside Beth meant witnessing what it truly means to be a dedicated educator. She held an unshakeable belief in student potential, but she never confused support with handholding. Meeting academic and ethical standards was, for her, a matter of professional integrity. Her feedback was famously black-and-white and unapologetically direct. If work fell short, she called it out with no holds barred, driven by an uncompromising commitment to excellence. Yet behind that sharp, clear-eyed feedback was an educator with an open door and an endless willingness to help anyone who needed her. Beth challenged all of us to be sharper, more ethical, and fiercely dedicated to our craft, leaving behind a standard of excellence that continues to guide how we teach, mentor, and serve. I deeply miss my friend.”
Dr. Barbara Burke, Dean, Henley-Putnam School of Strategic Security
Continuing Her Legacy
The Dr. Beth Eisenfeld Memorial Scholarship was established to carry her legacy forward by supporting adult learners pursuing their educational and professional goals.
The scholarship supports eligible undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students in the Henley-Putnam School of Strategic Security and related fields, including Criminal Justice, Paralegal Studies, and Legal Studies.
It recognizes the qualities that reflected Dr. Eisenfeld’s academic and professional life.
For adult learners balancing education with careers, families, financial responsibilities, and unexpected challenges, scholarship assistance can help provide something Dr. Eisenfeld spent years encouraging in her students: a way to keep moving forward.
Help Continue Her Legacy
Your gift to the Dr. Beth Eisenfeld Memorial Scholarship helps support students working toward their educational goals and carries forward her commitment to scholarship, ethical inquiry, and student persistence.
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The NAU Foundation is a nonprofit corporation incorporated in South Dakota and recognized as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization by the Internal Revenue Service. Gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Contributions designated for the Dr. Beth Eisenfeld Memorial Scholarship will be stewarded by the NAU Foundation in accordance with donor intent and applicable scholarship requirements.